Illuminated clock



United States Patent Ofiice 2,895,038 Patented July 14, 1959 ILLUMINATED CLOCK Edmund B. Whiston, Chicago, 111. Application April 2, 1956, Serial No. 575,534

3 Claims. (Cl. 240-21) This invention relates in general to an illuminated clock and in particular to a new and novel clock casing, and illuminating and switching means which will provide a soft glowing illumination for the face of the clock as well as a night light for the bed side or as a TV light.

It is highly desirable for a bedroom clock to have means for illumination of the face thereof, said illumination not being too bright but which will be of ample brightness to permit reading the time and will also give ample light should one need to arise and move about the bedroom.

It is also desirable to provide a switch for such a clock light which can be easily found in the dark when the light is out.

When used as a TV clock it is desirable to have a lighted clock with suflicient light to read the time and which will cast :a pleasing glowing light without any glare to interfere with the viewing of the picture.

To achieve the above ends it is one object of my invention to provide a clock housing formed of a translucent material preferably except for the panel in front of the clock hands which will be clear, and a light source creating an overall glowing efiect and lighting up the clock hands.

Second, to mount the clock back of a translucent face with the clock hands on the front of the translucent face, and a second face of clear material in front of the hands.

Third, to employ a housing of translucent material and a lower, forwardly projecting portion on the housing in which a light source is mounted to direct its rays throughout the housing and onto the face of the clock.

Fourth, to provide a translucent clock housing with a front clear panel, a lower forwardly projecting portion on the housing, a translucent panel spaced from the clear panel, the top of the lower forwardly projecting portion of the housing extending rearwardly to the translucent panel, and a light source mounted in the lower forwardly projecting portion of the housing directing its. rays throughout the housing and against the translucent panel to light the clock face.

Fifth, to provide modified forms of my device in which portions of the housing and the panel spaced from the transparent panel may be opaque or colored to produce various desired effects.

Sixth, to centrally locate the on-off switch on the top of the housing whereby one groping in the dark for the switch can easily locate same to turn on the light.

Other objects and advantages as well as the construction and use of my invention will be apparent by reference to the following description in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view through the housing with parts being shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of my illuminated clock.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of referonce, 1 designates a housing having an upper or clock compartment 2 and a lower forwardly extending light compartment 3, a suitable base 4 and a removable back 5. In the preferred form the entire housing, except the front transparent panel 6 may be made of a translucent plastic or similar material.

Spaced from the front clear panel 6 is a translucent panel or "wall 7 extending from the top 8 to the top 9 of the lower forwardly extending compartment 3, said top 9 extending into the housing to meet said translucent panel 7 which may extend from side to side of the housing.

A suitable clock movement 11, either spring wound or electrically operated, may be mounted to translucent panel 7 in any suitable manner, the hands 12 and 12' being located on the front side of panel 7 and the control knobs 13 extending rearwardly from the back 5 of the housing.

A light source 15 is mounted in suitable base 16 located in the forwardly extending compartment 3, and a switch 17 is mounted in the top 8, preferably centrally thereof as shown in Fig. 3, suitable conductors 18, 18, 18" connecting the various components and the clock in a well known manner and leading out through opening 19 in the rear of the housing to a suitable current source.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a new and novel illuminated clock and light in which the operating switch is so positioned that it is very easy to locate in the dark; in which a clock is mounted on an inner panel in a housing carrying a light source which, when lighted, will cas a soft glow 0n the face of the clock as well as causing the entire housing to glow and give a soft light in the room, making the light useful as a night light in a bedroom or sickroom, or as a TV light.

Various efiects can be obtained by making certain portions of the housing of different colors. The inner panel 7 may be of a different color from the rest of the housing or in various modifications it could be translucent or opaque.

It is obvious that changes in form, proportion and details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention and I reserve the right to such changes as come within the scope of these specifications and the claims which follow.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an illuminated clock, a clock housing, a forwardly extending portion at the lower end of the housing, a vertically disposed transparent panel in the front of the clock housing above the forwardly extending portion, a clock mounting panel spaced rearwardly from the transparent panel and parallel thereto, the top of the forwardly extending portion of the housing being translucent and extending rearwardly past the transparent panel and joining the clock mounting panel at the lower end thereof, and a light source positioned forwardly of the transparent panel and in the forwardly extending portion of the housing directing light rearwardly and upwardly through the top of the forwardly extending portion of the housing against the clock mounting panel and into the area between the clock mounting panel and the transparent panel in the front of the housing.

2. In an illuminated clock, a rectangular translucent clock housing of L-shape cross section having an opening in the front face thereof, a transparent panel in the front of the housing above the bottom leg of the L, a translucent clock mounting panel spaced rearwardly from the transparent panel and parallel thereto and closing said opening, the top of the bottom leg of the L extending rearwardly past the transparent panel and joining the clock mounting panel at the lower end thereof, and a light source positioned in the forward portion of the bottom leg of the L forward of the transparent panel simultaneously directing light through the top of the bottom leg of the L against the clock mounting panel and into the area between the clock mounting panel and the transparent panel in the front of the housing and throughout the translucent housing.

3. The structure as specified in claim 2, and a switch mounted on the top wall of said housing and electrically connected to said light source to energize said source.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bechler Apr. 30, Scantlebury July 23, Mattman Feb. 9, Scantlebury June 15, Klein et al Feb. 10, Rucker Jan. 8,

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